THIS BLOG HAS MOVED TO DUCKYHOUSE.CA

April 04, 2011

Phew, made it through the last week. It was spring break here for kids in the school system and we partake by shutting things down on the school front so we can overdose on friends and family. Our week consisted of a 6 day sleepover for my nephew, oodles of late nights, an adult niece sleep over and more visiting with friends. Busy, busy, busy. Yesterday afternoon our house was strangely quiet and the boys went into cousin withdrawal - poor fellows - they all have such a good time together.

While the kids were occupied last week I worked on the next block - a free pieced heart. I went for the high contrast of orange/red with black for my square, I wanted it to be a little creepy. I started reading Dracula by Bram Stoker a couple of weeks ago and I think it might be infecting my work as the point on the bottom of the heart looks sharp like a vampire tooth. I can almost see it dripping blood...Oooo scary {{{shiver}}}.

I'm having lots of fun with this quilt so far and am really enjoying the whole learning process. Today as we be settle back into our daily rhythm I'm hoping to squeeze a bit of studio time in. Next up is the wonky star. What are you up to on this happy Monday?

March 28, 2011

Wonky and fun, I couldn't resist doing a little fussy cut to make sure that sweet little ghost is looking out the window. In hindsight it would have been cooler if he was just peeking out the window but that just dawned on me now while I type this and I don't think I will be picking stitches at this stage. Besides, learning to make it and appreciate the way it turns out seems to be a part of the process, you know letting the art-form take it's course.

I should get back at it, more blocks to be done. Happy Monday all, xxx.

March 23, 2011

I've been settling in my new studio space for the past couple of weeks and couldn't wait to start on a quilting project. It's not that I don't already have a few neglected projects from the past couple of years, I just needed wanted something fresh.

Sarah from House of Krom, blogger, flickr friend & fellow homeschooler had just the new project to tantalize my senses and get me started on the right foot. She is doing a free piecing study for the first 10 months of 2011 with another blogger Molly. Free piecing is a part of the liberated quiltmaking process of which I am a huge fan. You can check out Sarah's blog post here for some information links.

I am joining late but I don't think it matters too much as you work at your own pace. I'm also taking on a theme for this study: halloween. I've always wanted to make a halloween quilt but seem to run out of time nearing fall. By starting early I just may just finish in time ;) In the first month (January) they started with the mondo bird. In my block I was thinking of a black bird and I really like how the black, white & yellow play up the mondo bird. Gives it that wee bit'o creepy/cuteness - terrifying isn't it?

It isn't too late to join, there are no sign ups, just come play along and as always upload your photos to the flickr group here. Yay!

April 02, 2010

I've been wanting to try my hand at English paper piecing and I couldn't think of a better place to start than with hexagons. I'm not alone, I see them popping up all over blogland and flickr, so many little hexagons to be made.

Really aside from knitting it is the perfect portable craft. One little baggie filled with fabric squares, paper hexagons, a needle, thread and you are set. I can see how nice it'll be to sit outside on a warm summer day sewing hexagons and not missing a second of summer. Ah...that's the way it should be done...sewing and sunshine.

I used the tutorial from TheSometimesCrafter. She also has a pdf template for 2 inch hexagons available for download. That size seems just right for me, don't want to start with 1 inch hexagons and completely overwhelm myself. By the way, I've seen other tutorials where people have trimmed their fabric squares to the shape of hexagons but really this is an unnecessary step and expends a lot of extra time that can be given to hexagon making. Just cut your fabric squares, fold and sew.

I'm still unsure what the end product will be. I was thinking about a pillow cushion or table runner but then again a quilt might be nice. My kids think I'm making beehive. What ever I end up with, I'll warn you ahead of time making hexagons is addictive.

March 19, 2010

I arrived home yesterday to find out that a new hot water tank had been installed.yipee er, not quite, the repair guy left the bill behind... and now I am a thousand + dollars lighter. *sigh* must we replace everything is this house??

Such is life but we aren't going to dwell on it, instead let's talk finished quilts. I was able to get a few shots outside before the wind arrived.

The quilt measures 55" x 45", each block is supposed to be 12" (finished) but I always seem to lose a little on the seam allowances and then of course one has to make sure things are squared up...well let's just say I have some things to work on ;)

I went with a green backing and pieced it with strips of fabric from the front to make up the width. I lucked out and found this great polka-dot fabric to use for the binding at my LQS. For a while there I didn't think I was going to find anything suitable and ordering online wasn't an option because of color matching issues.

Taking photos on a sunny day is beautiful but terribly difficult for shadows. You can see tree shadows all over the back, but I kind of liked it. For a different effect I tried shooting into the sun. It gave the quilt that stained glass aura, if only I could cover my windows all year round with stained glass quilt.

Next up for this quilt is a twirl in the washing machine and then it will be mailed off to join it's new owner. I hope she loves it as much as I enjoyed making it. I'll have to keep her identity a secret until she receives it...I love surprises.

I'll be at work for a few days over the next week but am planning a little shop update and also another home education post, so stay tuned. Happy Friday, xxx.

March 11, 2010

March 04, 2010

no longer will you spit your venomous water on my freshly laundered fabrics. no longer will you shut off, just because - you're not related to the windows operating system are you? no longer will you temperamentally not heat up. you are dead. ding dong the witch is dead. you must of known your days were numbered. you must have felt my animosity.

i contemplated buying your brother last month when costco reduced his price by $ 10, but i'm no fool. they say doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is the definition of insanity. strange i may be, but crazy i am not.

i suppose it isn't entirely your fault. you were probably never made to withstand the endless work that I put you to. oh the cottons and the linens, you had a difficult time coping at best.

last night you showed me what you were made of. you heated up for our last battle and then you sparked and smelt of burning wire. i thought you were going to shock me or worse. i reacted quickly and unplugged you. i didn't even shed a tear. instead i threw my jacket on and headed out the door minutes before dinner where my journey landed me at a local store.

after a quick assessment of my options i chose the Shark. ooo, even the name sounds like something to be feared. were you jealous when i plugged the Shark in t-fal? were you jealous of all it's silvery splendor, it's powerful steam bursts and endless heat? were you jealous that not once did the Shark turn off when I put it to work for 2 + hours last night laboring over freshly laundered cotton? don't get me wrong t-fal, i do not love ironing. but it's a necessary task when you are a pre-washer. believe me, only quilting could draw me to the iron, that and weddings or funerals.

speaking of funerals, i won't be having one for you. i won't even wish you a RIP. i think you are the last of the t-fal products to leave my home. yes, i have moved on and i want to shout it into the far corners of cyberspace.

February 13, 2010

I did it. I took the plunge and officially opened my etsy shop. I registered the name back in July 2008 thinking grand thoughts that I'd fill the shelves of the shop with goodies. Hah! that never happened. Lofty ideas for someone in the midst of huge upheaval (a move and renovation). Well, I re-adjusted my ideals and the shop has sat quietly waiting to be opened.

Craft Hope was just the kick in the butt I needed to pull some ideas together and get sewing. Heck, if I can make items and list them for a good cause (for love of Haiti), I can make items and list them for a good cause (for love of duckyhouse).

To kick off this new inspiration I am having a giveaway. The winner will receive a linen (with green vintage) fabric ipod cover - photo below- made by yours truly. It fits the classic iPod, the iPhone and iPod touch. I started working on the pattern quite a whileago, after a few prototypes I am more than over the moon with this design because it not only holds my iPod but also my ear buds. Yay, no more tangled ear bud mess, a very important feature!

To enter the giveaway:

leave a comment

tell me what country you are from

and your favorite olympic sport, if you have none then your favorite crafting sport.

If you twitter, facebook or blog it, let me know and I'll count it as a second entry...but you do have to let me know.

~ Comment will close mid week and I'll announce a winner shortly after that.~

continued below...

But it's not over yet, in addition to the giveaway, all items in my shop for the duration of the Vancouver Olympics 2010 - that's Feb 12th to Feb 28th will ship free anywhere in the world. Shop now

February 09, 2010

Last week I left you at sewn, cut and stacked. Yesterday I made a little more headway in between cleaning out my pantry - what a big job that was - it's amazing how much clutter can gather in a food zone.

Before I even began cutting my fabric I sat down one evening and drew out the direction for this quilt. I'm discovering that this step really helps and excites me when I have specific fabrics in mind. When I draw it out, it isn't meant to be an identical interpretation of the layout rather it is more a visual aid to see if the colors work together. So from the drawing I am now at the layout.

I've taken no less than 20 photos of the layout. I then upload the photos to my computer and that gives me a chance to see where the bulk of the color adjustment is needed. I've moved things around and am leaning toward this layout. What do you think?